Cell biology and the actin cytoskeleton

The actin cytoskeleton interfaces with many processes in cell biology, from cell shape and protrusions to membrane traffic. This means that where and when the assembly of actin filaments gives rise to a larger actin assembly that achieves a particular cell biological role is highly regulated by many different proteins. This project seeks to determine the proteins that are involved in making filopodia-like structures, which resemble filopodia, finger-like protrusions from cells. Filopodia-like structures can be made in a cell-free format using cytosolic extracts and artificial membranes (Science 329:1341, 2010). This cell-free system means that antibody technology can be used to target the proteins involved. The aims of the project are to characterise antibodies that affect the formation of filopodia-like structures, identify their target antigens and find out how they are used in filopodia formation in cells.